From 7D to 5D MkII, yes or no?

[rickp1]

I few months ago I upgraded to a 7D and to be perfectly honest I'm not too impressed with the sharpness of the images. As a result I'm contemplating the idea of upgrading again but this time going to a 5D Mk II.

The biggest change I'm looking for are sharper images. I checked out Canons site and did a bit it noise comparison between the 5D and the 7D at ISO 100 through 800 and the IQ was very surprising. What I will miss if the change does happen will be the features of the 7D, but even then all the features in the world are useless if I'm not happy with the images.

So what I'm looking for here are some comments, what do you guys think?

BTW all I'm really doing with the camera at this point is personal use. I wont be making large prints or shooting at very high ISO's etc...

Also if anyone has images that I can compare that would be highly appreciated.

Thanks
R.

[GadgetRick]

Honestly, I'm guessing either there's something wrong with your camera (not unheard of) or you're doing something wrong. The 7D is a fine camera and doesn't suffer from sharpness issues that I'm aware of. They have had a few focus issues (cured by sending camera back) and people have mentioned potential noise issues but these complaints come more from people looking at pixel level than anything.

If you're going to make this move, make sure it's not a problem with the camera or your technique before doing that. Seems kinda drastic.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by GadgetRick

Honestly, I'm guessing either there's something wrong with your camera (not unheard of) or you're doing something wrong.

+1 on that. There's gotta be something wrong here.

[rickp1]

i was one of those people.
I'm off to Yellowstone tomorrow with the family. It will be the first real test since I got the camera back from Canon after fixing the AF system. (The camera was 3 weeks old when I sent it in. I knew something was wrong with it).

I agree with you. I just feel like the images don't pop. I don't look at them and say "that's nice" or " amazing detail"

We'll see how it behaves.
When I get back I'm planning on renting a 5D MkII body. I'm really curious to see the images that comes out of it.

R.

[rickp1]

This is what I was hoping the 7D would do.
Scroll down to the 5D image comparisons.

Canon EOS 7D Review « The World According to Roland

R.

[OsmosisStudios]

k, how about you post an example (or two or three) along with EXIF.

[inkista]

Sorry, but do you comprehend what "The 5D Mark II images were down-sized to match the 7D resolution." actually means? (as in, yeah, no duh, the 5DMkII images are going to look sharper in this comparison).

You do understand that that comparison is not looking at 100% crops of the 5DMkII, right?

I don't even have to ask or look at examples. You're obsessed with sharpness at 100% crop, which is a completely unrealistic way of looking at things, especially if you, as you originally posted, aren't planning on making large prints. I'm with everybody else. A 5DMkII is overkill. But if you have the money and you want it that badly, then go for it. You're just likely to be disappointed when you blow your photos up a kajillion times to look at them at 100% crop and they don't seem much sharper than the 7D's.

Looking at things at 100% crop is like putting your hair under a microscope, and wondering why it doesn't look smooth.

[RLucas]

I don't have anything to add, except that I want your money! To go from a 50d to a 7D, to a 5DmkII in less than 3 months? Are you sure you are nailing your focus, and minimizing camera shake? Those techniques are far too often taken for granted, and lack of sharpness tends to get blamed too much on gear.

[rickp1]

I understand the images where modified for viewing, and you might have a point about my analness, (for lack of a better word) LOL!!!! but it seems to be general knowledge that the images out of a 5D are sharper than the 7D.
When my fiance, whom is absolutely technologically challenged looks at the images and says "they look grainy" or "they don't look very good, tells me something.
Last post I made about my 7D and its soft images, everyone told me it was probably me, well it wasn't, canon did find something wrong with the AF system.
Lets face it, this stuff isn't brain surgery. I might not be a pro but I have taken some really nice pictures in the past with my 50D and know how to replicate that product.
I know I might seem obsessive right now but I think others can relate on how it feels when you look at something and say to yourself "something isn't right".

When I get back I'm renting a 5D and we'll see how that stacks up against my 7D, lenses and my technique or lack thereof.

Well it's time to board my flight. I'll post my pictures when I get back for feedback from you guys and gals.

Talk to you soon
R.

[GadgetRick]

You'll never be happy with the sharpness if you're pixel peeping. You say the 7D is well-known to not be sharp. I'm not sure where you're getting that from. I know plenty of pros using 7Ds and getting plenty sharp photos. My good friend uses one so I see photos out of one all of the time. Never have I noticed a lack of sharpness.